Uralvagonzavod
2S3 Akatsiya
A Soviet-era tracked 152 mm self-propelled howitzer that preceded the 2S19 Msta-S, still held in large numbers in Russian reserve storage and reactivated in significant quantities to sustain artillery-heavy operations against Ukraine.
In service since 1971 · 20 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
60
km/h
500
km range
152
mm gun
27,500
kg
Pricing: No public unit cost; largely reactivated reserve stock
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Russian state channel
Rosoboronexport monopoly; Western sanctions exposure and payment/logistics risk for many buyers.
Channel: Rosoboronexport (state)
Fielded & proven
Widely fielded · 20 operators
In service since 1971. Status: active · ~4,000 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from.
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data — export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
- Max speed
Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance.
- 60 km/h Stronger than 27% of artillery systems
- Range
Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.
- 500 km Stronger than 52% of artillery systems
- Rate of fire
Rounds per minute (cyclic). Higher increases suppression and hit probability.
- 4 rpm Stronger than 24% of artillery systems
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
- Main armament
Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type.
- 152 mm D-22 howitzer
- Caliber
Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better — ammunition commonality matters.
- 152 mm
- Ammunition
Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity.
- 46 Stronger than 75% of artillery systems
- Max firing range
Maximum range of the main gun or rocket artillery (with assisted/extended-range munitions where noted). Higher extends reach.
- 20 km Stronger than 12% of artillery systems
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
- Combat weight
Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor.
- 27,500 kg
- Crew
Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity.
- 4
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
- Engine
Powerplant model and type.
- V-59 diesel
- Engine power
Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster.
- 520 hp Stronger than 36% of artillery systems
- Propulsion type
Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet…
- Diesel
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
- Units built
Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability.
- 4,000 Top 8% of artillery systems
- Operator countries
Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.
- 20 Top 6% of artillery systems
Specifications compiled from public Uralvagonzavod and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations — treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Uralvagonzavod 2S3 Akatsiya? +
The Uralvagonzavod 2S3 Akatsiya has a maximum speed of 60 km/h.
What is the range of the Uralvagonzavod 2S3 Akatsiya? +
The Uralvagonzavod 2S3 Akatsiya has a maximum range of 500 km.
How much does the Uralvagonzavod 2S3 Akatsiya weigh? +
The Uralvagonzavod 2S3 Akatsiya has a combat weight of 27,500 kg.
How many crew does the Uralvagonzavod 2S3 Akatsiya require? +
The Uralvagonzavod 2S3 Akatsiya requires a crew of 4.
What is the main armament of the Uralvagonzavod 2S3 Akatsiya? +
The Uralvagonzavod 2S3 Akatsiya's primary weapon is the 152 mm D-22 howitzer.
What engine does the Uralvagonzavod 2S3 Akatsiya use? +
The Uralvagonzavod 2S3 Akatsiya is powered by the V-59 diesel.
What is the Uralvagonzavod 2S3 Akatsiya used for? +
The Uralvagonzavod 2S3 Akatsiya is a artillery & mlrs typically used for deep strike.
How many countries operate the Uralvagonzavod 2S3 Akatsiya? +
The Uralvagonzavod 2S3 Akatsiya is operated by 20 countries.
How much does the Uralvagonzavod 2S3 Akatsiya cost? +
Uralvagonzavod 2S3 Akatsiya: No public unit cost; largely reactivated reserve stock. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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